Raquel Rosenberg
Intense. This is the best word to define my experience so far at COP 19. Today was only the second day and it feels like a week. Me and the Brazilian Youth Delegation are working together to guarantee (some) positive outcomes by the time COP 19 ends on Friday 22 November, even if we do not have high hopes for an ambitious Warsaw outcome.After so much preparation, being at the negotiations is really about understanding what is being discussed and I am nervous to know what the each country will talk about on topics yet to be covered. It is a wonderful feeling!
Brazil is being highlighted here in Warsaw! Brazilian delegates have been sought not only by YOUNGO, but also by the influential coalition of civil society actors the Climate Action Network (CAN), to support their concrete and innovative proposals and take them to the official negotiations, where only national representatives can make suggestions on what should be agreed. In addition, the openness of the Brazilian diplomats has been a positive surprise ever since the preparatory meeting in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, that we attended before COP 19. Many of the proposals that they have brought to the table fully meet with what we believe to be positive for the final outcome document. There is no one better than us young people, full of energy to ensure that our expectations are achieved at the very minimum, to undertake the liaison between these civil society groups and government representatives of Brazil.
Among the most relevant topics up for discussion, is the new climate agreement to be reached by 2015 – the terms of which, such as the levels of responsibility, are still up for negotiation. And there is also the issue of Loss and Damage, which guarantees support for vulnerable countries that are already suffering from the impacts of climate change impacts. This is closely related to finance and the process to operationalise the Green Climate Fund, which aims to support adaptation and mitigation activities in developing countries. One of the main proposals that the Brazilian Delegation is bringing to this COP is the creation of a mechanism that can measure the historical emissions (since 1850) of all countries, to really understand the responsibilities of each country before emissions reduction targets are put on the table. The Brazilian Youth Delegation supports this proposal and wants to bring this subject to the relevant discussions happening in different groups. – Source: Outreach
